Bus convoy defies rebel threats in Nepal

A heavily-guarded convoy of six buses snaked its way out of Nepal’s capital Katmandu today, the first vehicles to defy Maoist rebels who blockaded Katmandu this week with threats alone and without setting up a single roadblock.

But the risk of attacks by the insurgents kept other vehicles off the roads, and police said no cars or delivery trucks had entered the capital since yesterday’s start of the blockade, called by the rebels to demand that the government release jailed comrades.

The blockade has left the capital with only a few days’ worth of fresh produce and cooking fuel, officials have said.

However, the city has enough food staples such as rice and flour to last about a month, commerce ministry official Dinesh Pyakurel said.

Even with dozens of soldiers in trucks guarding the convoy of six buses, many would-be travellers were too scared to use them and only about 50 passengers headed off for various destinations in Nepal’s southwest.

“We have doubled the number of patrols and mobilised troops all over the highway. Security forces are on high alert all across the nation,” Home Ministry official Anantraj Pandey said.

Army officials said they have offered to escort supply trucks to bring food into the city, but truck owners have refused to work.